FDA Approves Botox for Crow's Feet Treatment

Botox Cosmetic is now approved for treatment of crow's feet in adults, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced, Wednesday. Crow's feet are wrinkles near the sides of the eyes and are also known as lateral canthal lines.

The agency had earlier approved Allergan Inc.'s Botox Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) for temporary improvement in frown lines (glabellar lines) in adults.  The skin-tightening product has also been approved to treat migraines and leaky bladders.

Currently, Botox is the only FDA-approved treatment for crow's feet in adults. Botox is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, according to Medline Plus.  The drug works by preventing facial muscles from tightening, which makes the wrinkles less prominent.

"This additional indication will provide people with a new FDA approved treatment option for those seeking a smoother appearance by temporarily minimizing the appearance of crow's feet at the sides of the eyes," said Susan Walker, M.D., director of the Division of Dermatology and Dental Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

Botox's efficiency in smoothing crow's feet safely was established in two clinical trials, FDA said. About 800 people participated in the trials. Researchers found that study participants who received Botox injections had less visible crow's feet than people who got placebo injections.

The most common side-effect of using Botox was eyelid edema, a condition in which the eyelids get swollen and are filled with fluid.